LAHORE – The Punjab government has decided to reinstate board examinations for Grade 8 students across the province.
The announcement came during a meeting of the Board of Governors of the Punjab Examination Commission for Testing and Assessment (PECTA), chaired by Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat.
The minister said PECTA will be responsible for conducting the Grade 8 exams. A detailed plan for implementation will be finalized within the next 30 days.
During the meeting, several key educational reforms were discussed.
Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat instructed education authorities to establish an effective internal examination system for Grades 5 to 7. These classes will now undergo internal assessment tests instead of traditional exams, and a comprehensive method for these assessments will be developed within a month.
“The assessment tests will help evaluate both teacher and student performance,” said the minister. He stressed the importance of a transparent and credible system for conducting internal assessments in lower grades.
Further, the minister proposed converting textbooks for Matric Tech (Grades 9 and 11) into video format to support online technical education. An academic committee will oversee the quality of these educational videos.
For improved technical education delivery, teacher trainers will be selected based on their past performance and results.
The minister also directed authorities to begin preparations now to ensure the timely printing and delivery of textbooks for the upcoming academic year, calling any delays “unacceptable.”
